Grand Opening of Language Acquisition Center Set for Nov. 19

The Department of Modern Foreign Languages at Baylor University will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the high-tech Language Acquisition Center (LAC) from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in room 300 of the Draper Academic Building.
Dr. Ute Lahaie, assistant professor of German, Russian and Japanese, began conducting research to remodel the outdated lab two years ago. She visited George Washington University, which was one of the first schools to implement video-file servers into their language laboratory.
Baylor adopted Lahaie's proposal over the summer, and the lab has been remodeled with new computers and technology including the video-file servers. The servers allow students to access video learning software from 95 computer stations. In the past, students had to wait in line to view a limited number of videotapes on televisions in the lab, but now students can access the videos easily through computers.
Lahaie said that the proposal was accepted because the foreign language department had not received significant technology improvements in over 20 years.
The center will initially be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, but Lahaie said the hours may be extended if there is demand for use of the center. "Classes may use the center during morning hours for interactive lectures, but when there are no classes scheduled the center will be in 'library-mode' for students to use the materials," Lahaie said.
Refreshments will be served at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Lahaie will demonstrate the new technology. For more information, contact Lahaie at 710-6453.